Canine Cushing's disease is a syndrome that causes dogs to produce "excessive amounts of cortisol," according to canine-cushing.co.uk. Cortisol is a hormone that that regulates the dog's metabolism. The excessive cortisol in the bloodstream can harm the dog's bodily organs and treatment often requires medication and, occasionally, surgery.
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Lysodren
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Lysodren is the most common medicine used to treat Canine Cushing's disease, according to Caninediabetes.org. Lysodren destroys the cells that create cortisol in the dog.
Vetoryl
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The medication Vetoryl is "the only licensed treatment for Cushing's in the U.K.," according to Canine-cushings.co.uk. Vetoryl blocks the production of cortisol with the chemical, "trilostane."
Anipryl
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Anipryl influences "dopamine concentrations," which influences production of cortisol. In clinical trials, anipryl proved successful in treating the disease in 70 percent of dogs in the study, according to Caninediabetes.com.
Ketoconazole
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Ketoconazole treats dogs that have adrenal tumors as a result of Canine Cushing's disease. It blocks production of cortisol but has liver-damaging potential.
Surgery
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If a dog has an adrenal tumor as a result of the disease, it may need to undergo surgery to remove the tumor. If the dog has a pituitary tumor, it will generally not be removed through surgery, as these tumors are slow-growing and not life-threatening.
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